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What do retired teachers do for fun and enjoyment after three decades in the classroom?

A couple of weeks ago, my wife, Linda, and I went steelhead fishing with my son Chris O’Donnell, owner of River Runner Outfitters, and his fiancee on a north coast river. In fact, we went through a spot on a different river, but similar to what you’ll see in this short video (that’s Chris on the oars…his passenger is doing the filming). It’s only 27 seconds. Look for the boat — a dark spot — in the upper left quadrant of the frame. (It’s a 17′ McKenzie River drift boat, especially designed — evolved actually — for running rivers without power.)

Christopher and Cairn caught a steelhead apiece the day we all went. Linda and I will have to try again. (We release the wild ones. Hatchery fish, identified by a clipped adipose fin, are kept for the barbecue.)

Recently, my education projects have taken a familiar turn. Here in Oregon, we have laws that guarantee the public’s right to recreate (lawfully) on the state’s waterways. Sometimes these rights conflict with the beliefs of private property owners whose land borders waterways.

The picture you see is an extreme example of private landowner disregard for the public’s right to float a river. (Imagine moving on down this river and running into a barbed wire fence. There are other, legal methods of containing range cattle.)

Long story short, I took a little time out to put up a blog with some pages from the former web site of Common Waters of Oregon, a grassroots organization dedicated to preserving the rights of Oregonians and visitors to use our waterways.

I was a founding member of this not-for-profit outfit, and I figured that the holiday season was the time for me to “give back” because the site needed some updating and a way to interact with people who want to converse about “river rights.”

It’s also the holiday season, we have company, my favorite guide is visiting too, so, as the Science Goddess recommends, I’m kicking back for a while, like Santa, with a cool one. 😉

My best wishes for a joyous and safe holiday season, and a happy and prosperous new year.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Regardless of our spiritual affiliations, or lack thereof, Thanksgiving offers us all the chance to give some thought to the good things in our lives. And since I’m not remotely qualified to offer a sermon, let me just say that I wish you all, and all your families, a most Happy Thanksgiving! — Hugh

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Opinions stated on this blog are mine alone and are not necessarily representative of the opinions of the people, institutions, governments, or companies with whom I work.
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